Molded plastic razor blade dispenser

ABSTRACT

A razor blade magazine includes an elongated molded plastic body member having an integral forwardly extending key portion. Formed in the body member are two sets of longitudinally extending flange portions, the upper flange portions defining a slot in which a blade pusher is slidable, and the lower set of flange portions providing a surface for supporting a stack of blade units within the body member. An end plug of molded plastic is received in and closes the transverse opening at the rear end of the body member and includes a horizontal reinforcing web that extends between two side walls of the plug. Formed integrally with and extending forward of one of the side walls is a blade positioning structure that includes four surfaces, the blade positioning structure acting to properly position blades stored in the body member.

United States Patent Petrillo MOLDED PLASTIC RAZOR BLADE DISPENSER [75] Inventor: Richard J. Petrillo, Norwell, Mass.

[73] Assignee: The Gillette Company, Boston,

. 7 Massis [22] Filed: June 4, 1973 [21] Appl. No.: 366,562

[52] US. Cl. 221/102, 30/402, 206/16 BC,

[51] Int. Cl B65d 83/10 [58] Field-of Search 221/232, 102; 206/16 B, 206/16 C, 16 BC; 30/402 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,601,601 6/1952 Fennelly 221/102 X 2.622.320 12/1952 Mead 206/16 B X 3,288,328 11/1966 Longuyon 221/232 X 3.460.712 8/1969 Lowry 221/232 X 3,549,046 12/1970 lten 221/232 X Primary Examiner-Robert B. Reeves Assistant Examiner-Thomas E. Kocovsky Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Willis M. Ertman [57] ABSTRACT A razor blade magazine includes an elongated molded plastic body member having an integral forwardly extending key portion. Formed in the body member are two sets of longitudinally extending flange portions, the upper flange portions defining a slot in which a blade pusher is slidable, and the lower set of flange portions providing a surface for supporting a stack of blade units within the body member. An end plug of molded plastic is received in and closes the transverse opening at the rear end of the body member and includes a horizontal reinforcing web that extends between two side walls of the plug. Formed integrally with and extending forward of one of the side walls is a blade positioning structure that includes four surfaces, the blade positioning structure acting to properly position blades stored in the body member.

2 Claims, 5 Drawing Figures 7e 62 v 66 Q 40 46 g 18 7o Lil-"I I ,II (I J3 1 0 14 1 1111 1 2o ]yn=- 22 1O 54 Y MOLDED PLASTIC RAZOR BLADE DISPENSER The invention relates to dispensers for razor blades, and more particularly to razor blade dispensers suitable for manufacture by plastic molding techniques.

In accordance with the invention there is provided a razor blade dispenser that includes an elongated body member of molded plastic that has a lower wall, a pair of spaced side walls that extend upwardly from the lower wall, a front end wall that extends between the side walls and one end of the body, the other end of the body having a transverse opening therein, a pair of first longitudinally extending flange portions that extend inwardly toward one another from the upper ends of the side walls, the inner edges of the first flange portions being spaced to define a first slot that extends the longitudinal length of the body member from the transverse opening to the front wall, and a second pair of longitudinally extending flange portions that extend inwardly towards one another from the side walls intermediate the first flange portions and the lower wall, the inner edges of the second flange portions defining a second longitudinally extending slot below the first slot and dividing the body into upper and lower compartments. A stack of new blade units is located within and extends longitudinally of the upper compartment. Biasing structure in the upper compartment is supported on the second flange portions and urges the stack of new blade units upwardly so that the uppermost unit is in engagement with a surface of each of the first flange portions and in register with a dispensing aperture in the front wall. An end plug of molded plastic is received in and closes the transverse opening, the end plug having a latch surface that cooperates with a corresponding latch surface in the body member to secure the end plug in position. A blade pusher is mounted for sliding movement in the first slot and has a handle portion that overlies the upper surfaces of the first flange portions and a depending flange portion on each side that overlies the upper outer surface of each side wall and restricts the movement of the side walls outwardly away from one another. A blade pusher portion is connected to the handle portion by a neck portion which is disposed within the first slot, the blade pusher portion engaging the uppermost blade unit in the stack and sliding that blade unit from the stack through the dispensing aperture as the pusher is slid along the body in the direction of the dispensing aperture. A blade dispenser constructed in accordance with the invention is simple and economical to manufacture, and provides a sturdy and easy to use unit for dispensing razor blades.

In a particular embodiment, the dispenser is designed for use with razors of the injector type and includes an elongated key that extends forwardly from the front wall which is inserted into the razor to open the blade clamping mechanism. Formed on this elongated key is an elongated rib of uniform height and width. At the end of the rib adjacent the front wall, there is formed a ridge of greater height than the rib and projections that extend above and below the rib. The ridge and projections cooperate with components of the injector razor head and facilitate smooth feeding of a blade unit from the dispenser onto the blade support platform when the key is fully inserted into the razor. The blades are properly positioned within the upper compartment by a first blade positioning structure that is molded in tegrally with the body member and extends vertically between thefirst and second flange portions, and a cooperating second blade positioning structure that is molded integrally with the end plug, these. blade positioning structure maintaining the cutting edges of the blade units spaced from the adjacent side wall. In an embodiment particularly useful with dual edge injector blades, the second blade positioning structure includes two vertically extending surfaces, one disposed parallel to and closely adjacent the rear end of the cutting edge of the blade and the other angled to engage the rear chamfer of the blades, this structure providing accurate lateral and longitudinal positioning of the blades over a substantial range of tolerances of the molded parts of the dispenser. Each first or upper flange of the body member each has a thin lip portion at its inner edge and the blade pusher effectively has two neck portions that connect the handle to the pusher portion, a first neck portion disposed between the lips and a second neck portion that is wider than the first neck portion and engages the under surfaces of the lips. The cooperating latch surfaces include a cam portion on one of the members and an aperture in the other member that provide a simple latching engagement which secures the end plug and body member together. This dispenser also includes an aperture for communication with the lower compartment for receiving and storing used blades so that the dispenser and used blades can be safely discarded as a unit when the new blade units have all been dispensed.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be seen as the following description of a particular embodiment progresses, in conjunction with the drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of components of an injector type dispenser constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view of the blade dispenser shown in FIG. 1, a section being taken through the body of the dispenser;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the dispenser shown in FIG. 2, with portions broken away;

FIG. 4 is a front end view og the dispenser shown in FIG. 2; and

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along the line 55 of FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF PARTICULAR EMBODIMENT Components of the dispenser illustrated in FIG. 1 include a dispenser body 10 that is molded of Cycolac ABS (acrilonitrile butadiene styrene copolymer plastic) that houses a stack 12 of blade units; an end plug 14 molded of polystyrene; a blade pusher or slider 16, molded of Celcon (acetal plastic); and a spring element 18.

The dispenser body 10 is an elongated molded plastic member that has a forward wall 20 which is inclined at a 3 angle and joins bottom wall 22 (FIG. 2) and side walls 24, 26 (FIG. 3). Two flanges 28, 30 extend inwardly from each side wall and are spaced apart so that the inner edges of the respective flanges 28, 30 define a slot 32 that extends rearwardly from the front wall 20. At the inner edge of each flange 28, 30 is formed a longitudinally extending lip 34, the upper surface of each lip being flush with the upper surface of its support flange and the lower surface of each lip providing a bearing surface 36. Also included in body 10 are two intermediate flanges 38, 40 which divide the body into upper and lower compartments 42, 44. Elongated slot 46 is defined between the inner edges of the intermediate flanges 38, 40 and extends from the rear of body to a point adjacent front wall 20. Slots 32, 46 permit movement of side walls 24, 26 toward and away from one another, the permitted range of movement of the side walls being greater at the rear end of the dispenser 40. A lip 48 extends above flanges 28, as an extension of front wall 20. Aperture 50 in side wall 24 provides a latch surface, aperture 52 enables the height of the stack of blade units in the upper compartment 42 to be viewed by the user, aperture 54 in bottom wall 22 allows insertion of blades into the used blade compartment, and aperture 56 in forward wall 20 is the aperture through which blades are dispensed from the upper compartment 42. At the junction of each side wall and upper flange is formed a longitudinally extending recess 58.

Projecting longitudinally forward of front wall 20 is a key 60 which, in conventional manner, may be inserted into a razor head to release the clamping pressure of the razor on a blade in the head and to enable the used blade to be removed, and also to properly align the dispensing aperture 56 (FIGS. 24) with the razor head to facilitate smooth entry of a fresh blade unit onto the blade seat of the razor. As indicated in FIGS. 2-4, key 60 includes an elongated rib of uniform height and width; a ridge 64 of greater height than rib 62; and upper and lower projections 66, 68, respectively, the leading edges of which are aligned with the leading edge of ridge 64. As the key 60 is inserted in the razor, rib 62 provides an initial release of clamping pressure and ridge 64 and projections 66, 68 cam components of the razor further open when the key is fully inserted to facilitate the smooth feeding of a fresh blade unit onto the blade support platform of the razor from the dispenser. Stop surface 70 limits the insertion ofthe key 60 into the razor.

End plug 14 includes an inclined rear wall 72, the sides of which form vertical margins 74 which are received within lips 76 that are formed as extensions of side walls 24, 26, as indicated in FIG. 3. Two vertical wall portions 78 project forward from rear wall 72 and a horizontal reinforcing web 80 extends between the vertical wall portions 78 in alignment with latch projection 82 that is formed on the outer surface of one of the wall portions 78. Also formed in end plug 14 is a blade positioning structure that includes four vertically extending surfaces, a rear limiting surface 84, a surface 86 disposed at an angle of about 45, a longitudinally extending surface 88, and a camming surface 90. This structure cooperates with angled surface 92 formed at the forward end of upper compartment 42, and these structures function to maintain the sharpened edges of the blades units properly positioned and spaced from the side wall 26 as indicated in H0. 3. As the rear end of the sharpened edge of the blade (indicated at 94- FIG. 3) is engaged by an aligning surface in the razor, use of that portion of the sharpened edge for alignment in the dispenser is not harmful and assists the proper and accurate insertion of a blade into the cooperating razor.

The third molded plastic component of the dispenser is pusher 16 which has an upper grip portion with curved edges 102. At each such edge 102 is a flange 104 that depends from each side of grip 100. Located between flanges 104 is a first neck portion 106, and beneath neck portion 106 are flange portions 108 which extend laterally on either side thereof to define a second neck portion. Below the second neck portion is blade pusher web 110 that has a transversely extending front edge 112 that is slanted at an angle of 3 to the transverse direction, a flat under surface portion 114 (FIG. 2) which rides on the blade unit below the unit being dispensed as the pusher is moved forward, and an inclined rear or camming portion 116 that is inclined at an angle of about 5.

in assembly of the dispenser, pusher l6 and specifically neck portions 106, 108 are inserted into slot 32. A stack of blade units 12 together with support spring 18 is then inserted into upper compartment 42, forcing pusher l6 forward until it contacts lip 48 of front wall 20, the blades then camming past surface 116 until their forward corners engage aligning surface 54. End plug 14 is then inserted with wall surfaces 78 engaging the inner surfaces of side walls 24, 26 (limiting their inward movement) and latch projection 82 snapping into recess 50. In this position surfaces 86 and 88 to align the rear edges of the blade units and hold their sharpened edges away from side wall 26. End wall 72 fits inside of lip extension 76 of the side walls and the upper edge of end wall 72 closes the end of slot 32 to provide a smoothly contoured external surface of the dispenser.

Pusher 16 can then be moved rearwardly along the top wall until front edge 112 clears the rear edges of the blade units in compartment 42 and allow the uppermost blade unit to rise against the undersides of flanges 28, 30. Grip flanges 104 overlie the upper portions of side walls 24, 26 (in recesses 58) and thus limit the outward movement of the side walls. The thickness of blade pusher web 110 is less than the thickness of a blade unit, in the case of conventional single edge type blades whose thickness are 0.01 inch, web 110 having a thickness of about 0.006 inch; and in the case of dual edge blade units of the type disclosed in copending application Ser. No. 287,335, entitled Plural Edge Blade Unit," filed Sept. 8, 1972 and assigned to the same assignee as this application, the thickness of web 110 is about 0.012 inch.

ln dispensing the uppermost blade unit from stack 12, key 60 is inserted into the cooperating razor to align dispensing aperture 56 with the blade passage. Grip 100 is grasped and a force is applied to move pusher 16 forward. As pusher 16 moves forward, the uppermost blade unit in the stack is fed through dispensing aperture 56 and onto the blade platform of the razor, displacing the used blade. When pusher 16 engages lip 48 in a forward limiting position, the leading edge 112 of the pusher web 110 extends through aperture 56 so that the blade unit is completely fed from the dispenser housing. The pusher 16 is then moved rearwardly to a position over web 80 of plug 14 so that edge 112 clears the stack of blade units and permits spring 18 to raise the next blade unit into register with dispensing aperture 56.

It will be seen that this blade dispenser provides a simple and secure dispenser assembly. While a particular embodiment has been shown and described, various modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art and therefore it is not intended that the invention be limited to the disclosed embodiment or to details thereof and departures may be made therefrom within the spirit and scope of the invention.

said transverse opening, said end plug having two vertical side walls, each saidend. plug side wall adapted to mate with an inside surface of the adja- What is claimed is: l. A razor blade magazine comprising: an elongated body member of molded plastic, said body member having a lower wall, a pair of side cent side wall of said body member, a second latch walls extending upwardly from said lower Wall, a 5 surface in cooperating engagement with said first from end l extendmg P f Sald slde f latch surface to secure said end plug in said trans- One end of said body, a dlspensmg aperture 531d verse opening, and a horizontal reinforcing web exfrom Wall the other n of f body having tending between said end plug side walls along the transverse ORenmg therem, i of first lollgltudl' lengths thereof, said web being centrally located extelldmg flange Pomons, each Sald first intermediate the upper and lower ends of said end flange PQmOn extemlmg mwardly from the upper plug side walls in alignment with said second latch end of its each associated side wall, a recess open Surface upwarfilly and Open to f Side at the junction of and a blade pusherslidable in said first slot, said each q wall and assoFated first flange l blade pusher having a handle portion that overlies f l gg g alhong the g i fl upper surfaces of said first flange portions, a deengt o Sal y e mner 6 gas 0 Sal pending flange portion on each side of said handle first flange Pomons bemg Spaced to define a first ortion that is received in each said recess and reslot extending the longtudinal length of said body p h f n dl member from said transverse opening to said front Smcts t e mowmem O Sal S} e g g y wall, a pair of second longitudinally extending away frompne another. and mamtgms Sal and flange portions, each said second flange portion ex- Second latch surfaces cooperalmg engagemqm tending inwardly from its side wall intermediate a a neck portion dependlng.from Sald handle m first flange portion and said lower wall the inner between 581d flange pomons and dlsposed with! edges of Said Second flange portion defihing a said first slot, and a blade pusher portion located 0nd longitudinally extending slot below said first below Sald i pomon for engglllg h upper slot, said second flange portions dividing said body most blade m smd Stack and Shdmg sald P into upper and lower most blade unit from the stack through said disa stack of new blade units located within and extend- P g p e fiS Said pusher lS .Slld along said ing longitudinally ofsaid upper compartment, each first Slot m the dlrectlon of 531d dlspensmg p said new blade unit having a cutting edge located ture- I i adjacent the inner surface of one of said side walls; The magazme as Claimed Claim 1 Wherem each of said first flanges of said body member has at the biasing structure in said upper compartment, suppp r portion of its inner edge a lip portion of less ported on said second flange portions and ur i height than the flange itself, and the neck portion of said stack of new blade units upwardly so that the 5 said pusher includes an upper first portion disposed uppermost blade unit in said stack is in engagement within the slot between said lips and a lower second with a surface of each of said first flange portions, portion that is wider than said first portion and in enand in re ister with said dis ensin a erture; ga ement with the undersurfaces of said lips.

g P g P 3 an end plug of molded plastic received in and closing 

1. A razor blade magazine comprising: an elongated body member of molded plastic, said body member having a lower wall, a pair of side walls extending upwardly from said lower wall, a front end wall extending between said side walls at one end of said body, a dispensing aperture in said front wall, the other end of said body having a transverse opening therein, a pair of first longitudinally extending flange portions, each said first flange portion extending inwardly from the upper end of its each associated side wall, a recess open upwardly and open to the side at the junction of each side wall and associated first flange portion each said recess extending along the longitudinal length of said body member, the inner edges of said first flange portions being spaced to define a first slot extending the longtudinal length of said body member from said transverse opening to said front wall, a pair of second longitudinally extending flange portions, each said second flange portion extending inwardly from its side wall intermediate a first flange portion and said lower wall, the inner edges of said second flange portion defining a second longitudinally extending slot below said first slot, said second flange portions dividing said body into upper and lower a stack of new blade units located within and extending longitudinally of said upper compartment, each said new blade unit having a cutting edge located adjacent the inner surface of one of said side walls; biasing structure in said upper compartment, supported on said second flange portions and urging said stack of new blade units upwardly so that the uppermost blade unit in said stack is in engagement with a surface of each of said first flange portions, and in register with said dispensing aperture; an end plug of molded plastic received in and closing said transverse opening, said end plug having two vertical side walls, each said end plug side wall adapted to mate with an inside surface of the adjacent side wall of said body member, a second latch surface in cooperating engagement with said first latch surface to secure said end plug in said transverse opening, and a horizontal reinforcing web extending between said end plug side walls along the lengths thereof, said web being centrally located intermediate the upper and lower ends of said end plug side walls in alignment with said second latch surface, and a blade pusher slidable in said first slot, said blade pusher having a handle portion that overlies upper surfaces of said first flange portions, a depending flange portion on each side of said handle portion that is received in each said recess and restricts the movement of said side walls outwardly away from one another and maintains said first and second latch surfaces in cooperating engagement, a neck portion depending from said handle portion between said flange portions and disposed within said first slot, and a blade pusher portion located below said neck portion for engaging the uppermost blade unit in said stack and sliding said uppermost blade unit from the stack through said dispensing aperture as said pusher is slid along said first slot in the direction of said dispensing aperture.
 2. The magazine as claimed in claim 1 wherein each of said first flanges of said body member has at the upper portion of its inner edge a lip portion of less height than the flange itself, and the neck portion of said pusher includes an upper first portion disposed within the slot between said lips and a lower second portion that is wider than said first portion and in engagement with the undersurfaces of said lips. 